HMS Goshawk, 1945

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by David Seymour, May 6, 2004.

  1. David Seymour

    David Seymour Senior Member

    Does anyone know about HMS Goshawk, 1945? Colledge, Ships of the Royal Navy, does not have her so I presume she was a shore establishment. One of Thetford Grammar School's Old Boys (Sub Lt R H Algar, RNVR) died whilst serving on her, and is buried at Port of Spain. So, was she the shore establishment there?

    Many thanks for any help.

    Regards,
    David
     
  2. Gerry Chester

    Gerry Chester WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Originally posted by David Seymour@May 6 2004, 10:51 AM
    Does anyone know about HMS Goshawk, 1945? Colledge, Ships of the Royal Navy, does not have her so I presume she was a shore establishment. One of Thetford Grammar School's Old Boys (Sub Lt R H Algar, RNVR) died whilst serving on her, and is buried at Port of Spain. So, was she the shore establishment there?

    Many thanks for any help.

    Regards,
    David
    She is a shore establishment on Trinidad and Tobago. Your reference to Thetford brings back memories of when my unit was stationed at nearby Brandon. Many a long walk from Thetford Station if the train from Cambridge was late arriving!
     
  3. David Seymour

    David Seymour Senior Member

    Gerry,
    Many thanks!

    Which unit were you with?

    Regards,
    David
     
  4. Gerry Chester

    Gerry Chester WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Originally posted by David Seymour@May 6 2004, 12:14 PM
    Gerry,
    Many thanks!

    Which unit were you with?

    Regards,
    David
    Hello David,

    I was with the North Irish Horse - page from my memoirs may be of interest. See:
    http://www.geocities.com/vqpvqp/nih/narrative/nih3.html

    As a boy my home overlooked the River Mersey hence my love affair with all matters shipping. HMS Conway (an old ship-of-the-line) was a a training ship moored on the river - sadly she ran aground and sank while being towed on her way to Anglesey to avoid being hit during the blitz on Liverpool. Here's a photo of her on the way:
    [​IMG]

    Unfortunately, I do not have a photo of HMS Goshawk.

    With best wishes,

    Gerry
     
  5. David Seymour

    David Seymour Senior Member

    Gerry,
    Many thanks for drawing my attention to your memoirs. Most interesting - read it all, not just the Thetford bit!
    Regards,
    David
     
  6. JRCowie

    JRCowie Member

    Hi All

    A Lt Gerald Aubrey Alderson from Tickhill died on 17 January 1941 - and is commemorated on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial. His brother died in WW1 (Aged 17) - I knew HMS Goshawk was a shore station, but I know very little of Gerald's war service.

    Does anyone know of him or how or where he died.

    Thanks

    John
     
  7. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    David, details of death below

    ALGAR, Robert H, Ty/Sub Lieutenant (A), RNVR, FAA, 752 Sqn, Goshawk, 25 January 1945, air crash, killed

    I am sure some of our RAF experts might be able to help on this one

    West Indies
    752 Squadron-observer training

    [HMS Goshawk (RN Air Station, Pairco, Trinidad)]

    FAA = Fleet Air Arm.

    Taking all this into account it looks like he was killed in a training accident
     
  8. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    More info.

    The Jan 45 crash occured in the area of Brasso Seco.

    The crew of the Reliant that crashed on 25 Jan 1945 were:

    ALGAR, ROBERT HENLEY Initials: R H Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sub-Lieutenant (A) Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: H.M.S. Goshawk. Age: 21 Date of Death: 25/01/1945 Additional information: Son of James William and Doris Victoria Algar (nee Hillsdon), of Coulsdon, London. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Western Portion. Grave 88. Cemetery: PORT OF SPAIN (ST. JAMES) MILITARY CEMETERY

    GREGORY, MAURICE WILLIAM Initials: M W Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Leading Airman Regiment/Service: Royal Navy Unit Text: H.M.S. Goshawk. Age: 21 Date of Death: 25/01/1945 Service No: FX/582022 Additional information: Son of Albert Butterworth and Violet Louise Gregory, of South Harrow, London. A.M.J.Inst. E. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Western Portion. Grave 90. Cemetery: PORT OF SPAIN (ST. JAMES) MILITARY CEMETERY

    THOMSON, JAMES Initials: J Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Sub-Lieutenant (A) Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Unit Text: H.M.S. Goshawk. Age: 20 Date of Death: 25/01/1945 Additional information: Son of Alexander A. and Isabella B. Thomson, of Dumfermline, Fife. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Western Portion. Grave 91. Cemetery: PORT OF SPAIN (ST. JAMES) MILITARY CEMETERY

    WHITFORD, ALAN Initials: A Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Petty Officer Airman Regiment/Service: Royal Navy Unit Text: H.M.S. Goshawk. Age: 24 Date of Death: 25/01/1945 Service No: FX/77269 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: Western Portion. Grave 89. Cemetery: PORT OF SPAIN (ST. JAMES) MILITARY CEMETERY

    SOURCE : Caribbean Naval Bases - Page 3 - World War II Forums
     
  9. diversimonr

    diversimonr Junior Member

    I currently own a 1944 Stinson Reliant that was stationed at HMS Goshawk during WWII.
    I was trying to get some details on the history of my AT-19 and of the base but I am not having much luck.
    I do know that 500 were built for the Fleet Air Arm on a lend lease basis and most went to the UK.
    I did contact the Fleet Air Arm and they could only tell me that it was in Trinidad.
     
  10. whistler

    whistler Junior Member

    HMS Goshawk was indeed an RNAS base at Piarco. My father served there 1941/43, he was a telgraphist/air gunner.
     
  11. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Welcome Whistler, thanks for sharing that.
     
  12. David Seymour

    David Seymour Senior Member

    I have been away from this thread for some time and have only just seen the responses by englandphil, for which very many thanks.
    Regards,
    David
     
  13. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    TNA Cat. No.: ADM 116/4176

    Scope and content: Fleet Air Arm Observers training school Trinidad: establishment of HMS GOSHAWK
    Covering dates: 1940
    Held by: The National Archives, Kew
     
  14. danielle delon

    danielle delon New Member

    Dear
    Whistler What can you tell me of HMS Goshawk ? I have a photo album the pictures were taken by a British Officer named L Storer. Does anyone know who he was? and the exact date that HMS Goshawk was commissioned at Piarco? The photos were taken during your fathers time and all bear the censor's stamp. Who was L Storer? why were they taken all over Trinidad and Tobago. Was he an Observer who covered the ground? Thank You danielle
     
  15. Ewen Scott

    Ewen Scott Well-Known Member

    This will give you some information about HMS Goshawk

    Piarco
     
    timuk likes this.
  16. timuk

    timuk Well-Known Member

    Danielle,
    Whistler has not been on this Forum since 2011. If you enter 'HMS Goshawk' into 'Search Forums' it will bring up other links.

    Tim
     
  17. danielle delon

    danielle delon New Member

    Thank you I know but there is so much missing. I cannot find the officer yet have so many photos with the censor's stamp on the back. He also visited Tobago to Kings Camp... cannotfind a reference there .. one old lady recalls King Camp. She worked in a house nearby. ... but thanks to you both!
     
  18. danielle delon

    danielle delon New Member

    Thank you so much ... I had that line and info but hope to get more.

    I am grateful for your support.

    Thank You
     
  19. Jayne Sherman

    Jayne Sherman New Member

    Hi Danielle I have just been talking to my mum who is 92 and she says her cousin Leslie Storer was on HMS Goshawk. I’m trying to find out if she remembers anything else. Did you find out anything else about him. Thank you Jayne
     
  20. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Regarding HMS Goshawk it might be worth searching for 'The New Goshawk' the journal of Royal Naval Air Station Trinidad, indeed and the full name.
    The IWM has a single copy of the journal (not available online): THE NEW GOSHAWK THE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION TRINIDAD

    If you search Google with "HMS Goshawk" site:ww2talk.com you get back twenty-three threads. Using "HMS Goshawk" + "trinidad" brings back even more possibles.
     

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